These two teams met in week 12 when the Cowboys took the
24-20 victory in Dallas.

This time they will meet in Carolina where the Panthers have
gone 6-2 this season and are on a three game winning streak.
The Cowboys are coming off a loss in New Orleans and are only
4-4 on the road.

Quincy Carter has thrown at least one score in each
of the last six games and his 290 yards last week was his
second best of the season. On the road this year he has thrown
more than one score only once in Detroit and three games had
no passing score. Carter threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns
against the Panthers earlier this year. Richie Anderson
caught one and the other went to Terry Glenn who ended
with 104 yards on only four catches.

Troy Hambrick has turned in his best games on the
road where he had 127 (NYJ) and 189 (WAS) yards, but against
the Panthers in week five he carried 23 times for 53 yards.

The inescapable fact is that the Cowboys offense has not
progressed this season and higher scores back in September
could have been related to a new scheme and play calling by
the Cowboys that no one had any game film on yet. The Cowboys
have enjoyed playing against many weak teams that were missing
injured players at the time. The Panthers come in relatively
healthy and are at home.

Look for Carter to throw for less than 200 yards as have
all visiting quarterbacks other than Brad Johnson in week
10 and Brunnell back in week one. The Panthers have never
given up more than two scores but almost always give up one.

Hambrick will face a defense that handled him already this
season and Richie Anderson will figure into the equation
as well, watering down with Hambrick will provide. The wideouts
are almost always the players that catch scores against the
Panthers and Antonio Bryant has been the most common
receiver the past month. Galloway or Glenn could score but
neither are likely to offer much yardage.

The Panthers are refreshed and ready to start the playoffs
with a healthy Stephen Davis who has been bothered
by an ankle injury and has not had over 13 carries in a game
since week 14. Against the Cowboys in week 12, Davis only
gained 59 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown.

Jake Delhomme has been prone to turnovers - he has
not had a game without one since week 8, but he comes off
two consecutive games with two touchdowns while Stephen
Davis was not 100%. Delhomme does not normally throw for
over about 230 yards in a game and only had 175 yards and
one score against Dallas the last time.

This game will likely not have big rushing by either team,
though Davis at home is a better bet to do something. The
Cowboys should manage to keep the score lower but either quarterback
could throw an interception. It should be a low score, defensive
matchup with more action via the pass than the run. Errors
and turnovers will be the killer in this game.

Team Comparisons - Current team
rankings (1-32) for FF points scored or allowed
by position